Conditional clauses are used to express hypothetical or imagined situations, and they often consist of an "if" clause (the condition) and a main clause (the result).
Zero Conditional (Present Real Conditional):
Used to express general truths, facts, or habits that are always true.
Structure:
IF V + V
Example: If you heat ice, it melts.
First Conditional (Present Unreal Conditional):
Used to talk about possible future situations and their likely outcomes.
Structure:
IF V + WILL V
Example: If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home.
Second Conditional (Past Unreal Conditional):
Used to talk about hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future.
Structure:
IF V2 + WOULD V
Example: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Third Conditional (Past Unreal Conditional):
Used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past and their unrealized outcomes.
Structure: IF HAD V3 + WOULD HAVE V3
Example: If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.